Drummer Frontmen
 

When you look at the history of music, it is impossible not to notice the paucity of band frontmen who also double as lead singer.

For instance, Dave Grohl had to wait for a guy to kill himself in order to assert himself as a frontman. For some reason, he also hired another drummer to play on his albums/tours.

Phil Collins sat backseat until Peter Gabriel's ego started writing checks his body couldn't cash; he then led Genesis through their most lucrative period.

Another dude who made this move was Don Henley. Coincidentally, he also became a prick and stopped drumming.

Charlie Watts doesn't sing. Tommy Lee doesn't sing. The poofy haired dude who wears the spandex in Aerosmith doesn't sing, either.

Why is there such a shortage of singing drummers? Is the physical act of drumming so difficult as to preclude its practioners from concurrently spilling out some sweet lyrics?

To test this theory, I played some pencil drums on my desk at work while listening to various songs, and singing along under my breath with the lead singer.

I've concluded that Don Henley really isn't that talented, as I was effortlessly able to keep time and sing "Hotel California" at the same time. The Foo Fighters' "Learn To Fly" was a bit more difficult, but I was still easily able to rip out some hot beats and lyrics simultaneously.

Conversely, I struggled mightily with "Invisible Touch", losing my drumming rhythm at various intervals, as well as forgetting most of the second verse.

I am interested in studying this phenomena further. Who are some other lead singer drummers?

Re: Drummer Frontmen
 

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Tommy Lee doesn't sing.

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He does, but he sucks.

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You should really stand up to sing. Plus doing a good melody and rhythm is just weird.

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Different genre altogether but the drummers for Atreyu and Underoath both do a good amount of singing. Granted it might not count since there are other designated singers in both bands.

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Fred LeBlanc of Cowboy Mouth is the lead singer and drummer. Plus he's awesome.

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Different genre altogether but the drummers for Atreyu and Underoath both do a good amount of singing. Granted it might not count since there are other designated singers in both bands.

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Same with From Autumn to Ashes. Maybe it's easier to scream and play drums.

Re: Drummer Frontmen
 

Ringo Starr and the All-Stars

I've seen bands that had drummers sing lead. It's a pretty awkward viewing experience.

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samj,

I was gonna mention Cowboy Mouth. He's the only one who comes to mind, though Phil Collins and Dave Grohl will sometimes drum and sing at the same time.

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Different genre altogether but the drummers for Atreyu and Underoath both do a good amount of singing. Granted it might not count since there are other designated singers in both bands.

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Same with From Autumn to Ashes. Maybe it's easier to scream and play drums.

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the screams there are more rhythmic than typical melodic singing. notice that all three bands the drummer is the screamer and not doing the melodic singing

Re: Drummer Frontmen
 

Yeah, Francis from FATA does lead on the albums, but only on a few songs at shows.

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uh n/m

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Who are some other lead singer drummers?

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Kelly Keagy from Night Ranger and Gil Moore from Triumph come to mind (cuz I'm old).

Re: Drummer Frontmen
 

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I've concluded that Don Henley really isn't that talented, as I was effortlessly able to keep time and sing "Hotel California" at the same time. The Foo Fighters' "Learn To Fly" was a bit more difficult, but I was still easily able to rip out some hot beats and lyrics simultaneously.

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I've concluded that C.C Sabathia really isn't that talented, as I can pitch for my softball team and hit .500.

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I've concluded that Don Henley really isn't that talented,

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welcome to what most of us already knew :P

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...and you will know us by the trail of the dead

they have two guys that alternate as the drummer and singer/guitar.

we're risking getting into an indie love fest but theyre somewhat known austin-based band with a sonic-youth sound.

Re: Drummer Frontmen
 

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Different genre altogether but the drummers for Atreyu and Underoath both do a good amount of singing. Granted it might not count since there are other designated singers in both bands.

[/ QUOTE ]

Same with From Autumn to Ashes. Maybe it's easier to scream and play drums.

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the screams there are more rhythmic than typical melodic singing. notice that all three bands the drummer is the screamer and not doing the melodic singing

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The drummer in Atreyu isn't screaming, well, most of the time he isn't, he's doing the melodic singing.

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The Romantics.

What I Like About You

You know this song.

And, Micky Dolenz sang vocals on "I'm a Believer." (Interesting fact: song was written by Mr. Neil Diamond)

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And Levon Helm from The Band.

The Last Waltz is on cable like every morning.

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And who can forget Tre Cool's forays into "singing."

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And Levon Helm from The Band.

The Last Waltz is on cable like every morning.

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Levon Helm is the answer to this question. Both a better vocalist and a better drummer than any of the others mentioned so far.

It's pretty hard to play drums and sing at the same time. I think in terms of playing / singing simultaneously, guitar is the easiest, followed by bass, followed by piano, then drums. (This is very general, it's pretty easy to bang out two chords on a piano and sing, whereas there are some guitar parts that are kinda syncopated and hard to play while singing, but in general, all things being equal, that's my opinion).

Another reason for this is that guys who can sing typically don't play drums. If you want to be a singer, you learn guitar, or maybe piano. A lot of the good drummer / singers can also play melody instruments (like Helm).

Another great singer/drummer is Popsy Dixon from the Holmes Brothers. NYC blues band with a great sound, check em out if you guys get the chance.

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http://www.bestweekever.tv/bwe/image...antonicity.jpg

You have got to be kidding me!

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http://www.bestweekever.tv/bwe/image...antonicity.jpg

You have got to be kidding me!

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dammit i clicked this thread to post kevin :x

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i was going to say, Levon Helms, an Arkansas boy; there is nothing better than The Band, but I'd guess you would have had to have been there to know that.

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Death From Above 1979
http://www.deathfromabove1979.com/im...tent/logo3.jpg

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Do Prince, Sheila E and Lenny Kravitz count?

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Hüsker Dü

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...and you will know us by the trail of the dead

they have two guys that alternate as the drummer and singer/guitar.

we're risking getting into an indie love fest but theyre somewhat known austin-based band with a sonic-youth sound.

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Yeah, but the guy drumming is never the lead singer. They just alternate and move around and [censored].

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Levon Helm is a solid pick. He sang on most of my favorite Band songs. They did have some other great singers in that band though.

Didn't Chris Cornell start off singing and drumming originally for Soundgarden?